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I LOVE Amen but he needs to come off the bench

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Francis3422, Feb 8, 2026 at 2:22 PM.

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  1. Francis3422

    Francis3422 Member

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    Amen is my favorite player, and I do believe that he has the highest potential ceiling on the roster.

    that being said, much of the narrative about his lack of shooting is accurate. I am encouraged because of the free throw shot improvement. I don’t know if the data backs it up, but it also seems like his touch around the rim and from the mid range has improved. Obviously, the three-point shot is still rough and probably has regressed a good bit from the corner.

    Interestingly, I think that he could be working diligently on the corner three and just have this be a little bit of an extended run of bad luck and we could see this data improve at some point. I still feel like he will get to be relatively competent, although it could take years.

    If we were dedicated to building an offense around Amen, I would move Smith to center or I would go out of my way to a choir a starting level center with range. Note that while I appreciate a player like Landale, I don’t necessarily think he is starting quality. So it would be a pretty significant investment to find the right person.

    When we traded for Durant, we clearly underestimated the lack of grit that would be lost with Brooks leaving. As well, Brooks should be noted for his shot making. Although this can come and go, he was effective last year. Those compliments being said I don’t necessarily know if I would want him having the greenlight in the playoffs.

    there isn’t really a realistic version of that trade that amount in us keeping Brooks because we were never going to trade Fred. So it’s not even worth talking about.

    I am not pleased about our inactivity at the trade deadline. I don’t love it. but I still think that we are one of the few teams in the NBA that has a chance to win the title this year. That is predicated on many things breaking our way. Quite a few.

    Amen’s ability to get to the rim is negated too often by the fact that Alpi can’t shoot. Thompson getting better as a pass though so that is encouraging.

    His ability to cut is similarly impacted by Alpi not being able to shoot, but is also neutered by the fact that Smith and Eason sometimes struggle to attack the rim when Thompson draws the double.

    Allowing Sengun and Durant The most amount of space possible this year is our clearest path to the title. Starting Reed/Smith/Eason Around them supplies that. And empowers Reed to feel free with his offensive game.

    Sengun Becomes the primary creator. Reed and Durant both kicking in. Smith should be in those lineups unless it is clear that he is struggling mentally.


    I see plenty of scenarios where player growth wrap allows Amen and Sengun To grow together. But for this year, it allows amen to go back to his role as super sub and especially as an impact defender.

    He has certainly been above average defensively this year, but is nowhere near his freakish level of last year. Let him play a few more minutes per game. And when he comes off the bench sub him in for Sengun. this also allows him time with a line lineup that allows for spacing. Capela being the center on the floor when either read or Kevin are initiating the offense.

    I still think DFS We’ll find some semblance of his form although I am not convinced it will happen this year.

    I believe that if we treat the singular season with the above strategy and we add a Guard that can contribute with the ball control and scoring factors that we can still make a good run at it this year.
     
    #1 Francis3422, Feb 8, 2026 at 2:22 PM
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  2. Hank McDowell

    Hank McDowell Member

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    If I were the coach, I would LOVE to have Amen as my 6th man because you could put him just about anywhere. He'd still get starters minutes, you'd just have the flexibility to move him all over the court. That would be a dream, but I'm not sure if Amen would see it that way or not.
     
    #2 Hank McDowell, Feb 8, 2026 at 2:58 PM
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  3. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Clutch Crew
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    And start who? Reed?

    I don’t think that will work

    ideally should be Jabari but he’s playing well tbh
     
    #3 LosPollosHermanos, Feb 8, 2026 at 3:00 PM
    shakes05 likes this.
  4. Deadend

    Deadend Member

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    Heresy!

    It ain't happening mate.
     
    #4 Deadend, Feb 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM
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  5. bilaal14

    bilaal14 Member

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    Na, I would much rather Tari come off the bench and get close to starter mins because our bench is ASS without him.

    Reed should get the start, thompson, bari, durant, and sengun.
     
    #5 bilaal14, Feb 8, 2026 at 3:10 PM
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  6. Houston77

    Houston77 COOKIES AND CAKE, MY TEAM BAKED!
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    Nah. Reed / Amen / KD / Bari / Sengun with Eason as a sixth man works perfectly.
     
    #6 Houston77, Feb 8, 2026 at 3:19 PM
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  7. Aruba77

    Aruba77 Member

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    Amen is too impactful of a player to come off the bench. If he was playing at the 3/4 this year there wouldn't be bench talk. You’ve got supposed “shooters” who are under 36% starting, but our best prospect should come off the bench because he’s a non-shooter? Just play him at the position he’s supposed to play. Maybe also play the 2nd best shooter on the team not named KD more than 20 min.
     
    #7 Aruba77, Feb 8, 2026 at 3:20 PM
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  8. Bo6

    Bo6 Member

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    We should have traded KD for a pick in this upcoming draft and a young player with potential. KD operating the midrange WITH Amen and Sengun.. that's the big issue.

    Reed - Amen - Tari - Jabari - Sengun should work well together.
     
    #8 Bo6, Feb 8, 2026 at 3:23 PM
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  9. withmustard

    withmustard Member

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    I think Dillon Brooks gets too much credit for the grit he brought in the sense that now that he is gone, other players don't have to hustle. I appreciated the culture he established but just because he is gone, it doesn't justify Amen and Tari not playing defense anymore.

    I can't remember the last time they locked in with 3/4 court ball pressure to create the chaos that dubbed them the Terror Twins. Both of them were All- NBA level defenders last year, and neither are this year. That's on them and Ime, not Brooks.
     
    #9 withmustard, Feb 8, 2026 at 3:31 PM
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  10. groovemachine

    groovemachine Member

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    He just needs to go back to the dunker spot instead of being on the ball in the half court
     
    #10 groovemachine, Feb 8, 2026 at 4:50 PM
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  11. Mathloom

    Mathloom Shameless Optimist
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    Correct me if I'm wrong but Amen has the highest net rating among all starters right?

    And instead of building towards him, we should bench him?
     
    #11 Mathloom, Feb 8, 2026 at 4:56 PM
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  12. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    Guess they dont want amen to finish the game in the clutch as well lol
     
    #12 ThatboyPhuong, Feb 8, 2026 at 4:57 PM
  13. OremLK

    OremLK Member

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    Amen coming off the bench as a 6th man (for 30+ minutes per game) would be reasonable if FVV were healthy. In fact, I advocated for that at one point last season and got called crazy for it.

    But since Stone didn't trade for a point guard, and Reed is not playing well lately, I don't really see it working. Amen is our best guy to bring the ball up right now, and it's not ideal with his lack of shooting, but Reed is also shooting abysmally from three lately and Aaron Holiday is horrible at being a distributor and Davison just isn't good enough.
     
    #13 OremLK, Feb 8, 2026 at 5:04 PM
  14. the11mingdynasty

    the11mingdynasty Member

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    They’ve been the Olsen twins on D this year.
     
    #14 the11mingdynasty, Feb 8, 2026 at 5:08 PM
  15. shakes05

    shakes05 Member

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    Tari needs to come off the bench and Reed needs to start.
    As bad as Reed's been playing, the ball moves more fluid through him vs Amen.
    They need to run this starting 5 for remainder of season:
    Sengun
    Jabari
    KD
    Amen
    Reed
    If we convert JD for remaining of season, he needs to be in rotation for backup pg duties
     
    #15 shakes05, Feb 8, 2026 at 5:10 PM
  16. Joe Rocket

    Joe Rocket Member

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    He just doesnt fit. He doesnt attack the rim enough and that was a big part of our offense last year having both Fred and Jalen attacking the rim and Dillion knocking down three pointers. We needed a young point guard. I really wish they had gone after Lamelo this past offf season in exchange for Jalen like I suggested instead of KD. They seriously overrated KD. He just scores efficiently he doesnt make anyone better. He always needed a superstar PG to be successful.
     
    #16 Joe Rocket, Feb 8, 2026 at 5:22 PM
  17. Le$$

    Le$$ Member

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    Eason had a good game, and when Reed doesnt we will be back to loser mentality sooner or later, so whats the point of thread?
     
    #17 Le$$, Feb 8, 2026 at 5:27 PM
  18. xtruroyaltyx

    xtruroyaltyx Member

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    I dont think its about him not starting....or the position he plays as much as that Amen and Sengun should have their minutes staggered a lot more.
     
    #18 xtruroyaltyx, Feb 8, 2026 at 5:28 PM
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  19. Joe Rocket

    Joe Rocket Member

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    Amen is really a power forward. KD should have been traded for a pg and that way we would have to worry about stagering our two best young players. We are giving up too much of our identity for him.
     
    #19 Joe Rocket, Feb 8, 2026 at 5:39 PM
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2026 at 5:58 PM
  20. cheke64

    cheke64 Member

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    He needs to shoot the midrange. It's downright embarrassing how bad he avoids it now, Ime did his damage
     
    #20 cheke64, Feb 8, 2026 at 5:45 PM
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